Frank m



(No Model.)

F. M. CONVERSE.

SAFETY SEAL FOR BNVELOPS.

7 No. 564,327. Patented July 21, 1896.

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I UNITED STATES FRANK .M. CON VERSE,

PATENT FFICE.

OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY-SEAL FOR ENVELOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,327, dated July 21, 1896.

' Application filed January 17, 1896. Serial No. 575,830. (No model.)

To all whom, zit may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. CONVERSE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Safety-Seal for Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to protective devices for sealing envelops and packages, and although it is of general utility it is especially applicable to envelops used in transmitting money and valuable papers.

The object of the invention is the construction and application of a seal in'a manner such that it is impossible to beat it without destroying the seal and immediately disclosing the fact that it has been tampered with.

WVith this object in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 repre sents an express-envelop intended to receive three seals. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section through one of the seals as completed. Fig. 3 represents a plan and edge View of the safety device. Fig. 4: is a like representation of a modification.

At A, in Fig. 1, I have represented a completed seal embodying my invention which, as it will be observed, has no different exterior appearance than the ordinary seal.

At B is seen the envelop as prepared to receive the wax.

At 0 the corners of both the upper and lower flaps e andf, respectively, of the envelop are shown turned back, disclosing the safety device D secured to the end flap g. e

The safety device consists, preferably, of a hollow or ring-like piece of metal provided with prongs h for securing it to the envelop, though it may be of fiber or other hard material, and be secured in any other suitable manner. It is fastened to the surface of the innermost flap or flaps of the envelop, being secured through both end flaps when placed at the center of the envelop, where theyoverlap.

In the preferred form of the device D, the inner edge of the ring is upturned for a distance a little greater than the combined thickness of the overlying flaps, as illustrated.

The first overlying flap, as f, is provided-with a hole a little larger than the inner diameter of the ring, but smaller than that of the outer 5 5 diameter, and the outer flap, as e, is provided with a hole a little larger than that in flap f. The periphery of these holes are also preferably serrated, to insure a better seal, though they may be left plain.

The envelop is made up with one or more safety devices in place in the end flaps, the flap f being pasted down upon the end flaps in the usual way, though the device may be added to envelops already made up by passing its prongs through the several secured flaps and clenching them on the inside of the envelop.

In sealing the envelop the free flap is folded down and pasted, or not, as the case may be, wax is then melted and dropped into ring D and around it upon the flaps of the envelop, when the seal may be impressed, as usual. On account of the upward flare of the inner portion of the ring the wax becomes well clenched under the ring, and on account of the different diameters of the holes in the flaps e and f said flaps are secured to each other and to the ring, as well as to the end flap exposed through the centerof the ring.

The prongs h form an obstruction to the passage of a knife between the ring and flap to which it is secured, and the upturned edge of the ring forms an obstruction to the passage of a knife through the seal between the 8 5 flaps. It also comes so close to the surface of the seal (see Fig. 2) that the seal cannot be sliced off the envelop without breaking through its surface.

If desired, the well-known safety-stitch now used by some express companies may be advantageously used in connection with my safety device, the knot being sealed into the depression formed within the ring.

The device is simple and inexpensive, and may be used on any envelop or wrapper intended for sealing with wax.

The form of the safety device, the mode of attachment, and the location may be considerably varied from that illustrated or described without departing from my invention.

It may be constructed, as in Fig. 4, with an upwardly-extended central portion forming, by means of perforations n, a renteringspace into which the wax may flow and clench the seal.

hat I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination with an envelop or wrapper, of a safety device having one or.

more openings therein and secured to the innermost flap or portion of the envelop or wrapper and extending through perforations in the overlying flap or flaps, said device and perforations being so formed as to permit sealing-wax to unite said overlying fiap or flaps to the innermost flap or portion through the opening or openings in said safety device.

2. The combination with an envelop or wrapper having perforations through its overlying fiaps, of a hollow safety device secured to the face of an inner portion or flap, and having its inner edge projected upwardly through said perforations whereby said overlying flaps may be sealed to the inner flap through the hollow of the safety device, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As an article of manufacture, the safety sealing device consisting of a ring having an upwardly-flared inner edge formed to leave a clenching-space between it and the surface to which it is attached and provided with securing-prongs for attaching it to such surface in a manner to leave intact that portion within the ring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. As an article of manufacture, an envelop having a perforation through its lower overlying fiap and a larger perforation through its outer overlying flap, in combination with a ring secured to an inner flap of the envelop by prongs in the manner specified and having its inner edge upwardly flared to project through said perforations and to form a clencher on the sealing wax, substantially as set forth.

5. A safety sealing device for envelops or wrappers, consisting of a piece of sheet metal constructed to be secured to the face of a portion of a wrapper and formed to provide a reentering space or cavity beneath the metal under which the wax may flow and become attached to that portion of the wrapper inclosed by said device.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this th day of January, A. D. 1896.

FRANK M. GONVERSE.

\Vitn esses:

WVM. H. CAPEL, DELBERT II. DECKER. 

